Florence Wangari, a Kenyan missionary worker was among the 157 people who lost their lives following the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday.
She had left for the Democratic Republic of Congo nearly a year and a half ago.
Back home, her husband, Peter Kimani, and daughter, Gloria Wangari, were eagerly waiting for the reunion that was long overdue.
“She told us she would arrive at 10am on Sunday morning but didn't tell us the flight number, so we were assuming she was on the next flight out of Addis Ababa,” he revealed to the standard.
The 11-year-old and her father had travelled for over 7hours from Kisumu to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Sunday, alongside other relatives who had also made their way to the airport to welcome Wangari back home.
Excitement turned to worry as the flight did not arrive at 10:15am as scheduled, and Kimani’s numerous attempts to inquire the reason behind the delay went unanswered.
All hopes were dashed as just a few minutes later, Wangari’s 11-year-old daughter caught a glimpse of the news regarding the Ethiopian Airlines crash on the television at the lobby.
“I didn't even know there was a plane crash. It was my daughter who saw the news and informed me,” Kimani divulged.
However, despite confirmation that flight ET 302 had crashed moments after takeoff, Kimani still kept hoping that his wife was on a different flight.
The next Ethiopian airlines flight ET 304 landed at 4pm, with Kimani and his daughter hoping and praying that Wangari was in that particular flight, and not the ill-fated ET 302.
They eagerly watched as the passengers streamed out one by one until none was left. This was when it finally dawned on Kimani that his beloved wife must have been on the plane that had crashed.
“The way is clear now. All passengers who landed have passed through, Wangari was not among them. I think now we just have to accept that she was on the other flight,” a distraught Kimani stated.
He went on to reveal that he hadn't talked to his late wife in a week as he was working in Moyale where network coverage hindered his efforts.
